Ian Forbes was awarded his Life Membership in 2015.
His Life Membership was presented by FNEG President, Robert Ingram.
The following is a summary of Ian's involvement in football in East Gippsland.
Before coming to Bairnsdale in 1978, I had lived in towns where Australian football was the main sport but had taken no more than a passing interest in the game. I was bought up on soccer and that was my main sporting interest, and it was the only code of football I ever played.
I became friendly with John Atkins who was at that time, president of Lucknow Football club. I started attending games in 1979, and in 1980 I went on the committee. I remained there for 9 years.
For the first 3 years, I was secretary. With this job, came the added task of being a league delegate. Today the league is run by independent directors, back then it was club delegates – two from each club. With 10 clubs, 20 people plus a secretary used to crowd a small room.
I was delegate for most of 1980’s, I think 6 years. Early on the league wanted a new draw but nobody was sure how to do it. I thought, I can do that, and worked it out one night. I submitted a 10 team draw to the secretary shortly afterwards, I have done several since.
The biggest thing that happened in the eighties, while I was delegate, was the splitting up of the league. We had 4 clubs who decided they couldn’t compete and wanted out. 4 clubs who couldn’t have cared less, and Lucknow and Wy Yung in the middle who were more interested in the welfare of all clubs plus keeping a competition with 10 teams going. I found out then that compromises can’t always be made.
After 3 years of being secretary, my next job at Lucknow was goal umpire for the senior team. At that stage there was no independent goal-umpiring panel.
I did this for 6 years, and in my time in football this is what I enjoyed doing most. Volunteers were always needed at finals time, and I did several E.G.F.L. finals including 4 grand finals. I probably wasn’t the best goal umpire. I just wanted to do it.
In 1989 we moved to Bruthen and as we had a local business, I became involved in the local football club and the Omeo district football league. I became a delegate for the Bruthen football club at league meetings.
I soon inherited the position of league junior secretary and then publicity officer succeeding Nesta Owen. The biggest part of that job was talking to Kevin Hogan on ABC radio.
I became very fond of the ODFL, and when Raymond Gallagher stood down as league secretary, I decided to apply for it. I thought I would do it for 2 or 3 years but stayed for 9, even after we had moved back to Bairnsdale to live.
I possibly would have remained in the job longer but the VCFL had started to use computers to make the job easier.
When I finished as secretary, I was spending twice as much time on the job compared to when I started. However it had made the always contentious issue of clearances more clear cut.
On moving back to Bairnsdale, I started to help the EGUA by goal umpiring when they were short, which was quite regularly. I enjoyed doing this, and joined the panel full time.
For about 3 seasons this was my only job in football. In 2007 I was appointed as a director of the EGFL. They had recently changed from club delegates to an independent board and I thought this was an excellent idea. I remained there until 2011, but 2015 I came back again and was appointed as Secretary.
About 2009 I began submitting historical items to the local radio station REG-FM which they used on their Saturday morning program, “The Footy Show”.
In 2011 I became part of the program, turning up each week to record the show with other regular presenters.
My main part of the show is presenting a piece each week on football past in East Gippsland.
I am able to do this because of my hobby in researching football history in the East Gippsland Shire, not only the EGFL and ODFL but other leagues long out of existence. The records I have compiled are gradually being arranged into a coherent form.
Another benefit of compiling records is that I have been able to help clubs compile their histories. I have usually informed clubs when their centuries were due, then a book was published, plus other celebrations were arranged.
In all cases it has been great money raisers for the clubs. Either I have written the book, shared the writing with a club historian or the clubs have arranged for a local supporter to do the compilation.
I hope to be involved in football for some time yet. I gave up goal umpiring 3 years ago, even though I miss it, as I thought I may be slowing down a bit.
Although not a member of Lucknow Football club, I help them out each week by being the timekeeper at the senior game. This is my third season and I think I’ll be able to do this a bit longer.